Human Spirit

Once upon a time, many moons ago, women around the globe practiced healing techniques and rituals that nourished and supported sexual vitality, fertility, life transitions, visionary dreaming and intuitive channeling. Womb health was valued and taught to each generation so that women could tune into the rhythms and wisdom of their body on the journey from menarche to menopause and beyond.

Specifically and still practiced today, Mayan shamans and midwives throughout Latin America would use hands on healing of the womb, body and the spirit to support and heal fertility, transitions, pathologies, pain and traumas.

What fascinates me most is their intuition concerning the position of the uterus, and other abdominal organs, in relation to mental, spiritual, physical and hormonal discomfort and imbalance (they had no “medical” training). They understood that the uterus, an organ that can move, stretch and grow during childbirth and menstruation is susceptible to moving or tipping into a position that is sub-optimal at any time.

The last known Mayan Shaman in Belize, Don Elijio Panti, would always say “when a woman’s womb is out of place, her life is out of place”.

As this work has been passed down into the hands of gifted practitioners throughout the world for decades now, the techniques have been successful in many modern pelvic and abdominal imbalances:

I remember the first time I had a Maya abdominal massage. I felt a beam of energy rise up through my belly and for the first time in my life I felt my womb- the next day I bled. I learned that my uterus was retroverted and there was congestion through my inguinal lymph nodes. At the end of the session I was taught invaluable hands on self-care for a life of connection and deep listening to my body.

Like so many of my clients I just wished I had found this work and felt my body in this way 10-20 years ago. How did I not know this about my own body? How is this not taught to every woman everywhere? The grief and anger I was holding from losing my rites of passage and learning around my body- this female vessel of miraculous creative potentials- have been clearing ever since I began this journey as teacher and recipient. And, not only has my pelvic health been restored but I am continuing to see ancestral patterns heal and my intuitive senses awaken to visionary states.

I feel it necessary to interject and say here that I know that this work can heal many layers of the body- mind that other things cannot. AND, I am fully in support of modern interventions when knowledge has been obtained to make informed decisions around our bodies and when every beautiful Earth and Spirit created medicine has been tried. Typically I find that, like in the case of profusely bleeding fibroids where surgery is life saving, or of teens in very compromised situations where birth control is a necessary safety measure, that womb healing work supports the full integration of these measures while providing support of the entire system.

I fully honor every person’s decision around their body when they have obtained the knowledge they need to understand all options. We have been greatly misled, and frankly abused, by the modern fertility interventions that creep into and control our bodies under the guise of freedom masquerading as Life intelligence. These sessions will inform you- knowledge is power and true control over your precious creative vessel.

Why I say EVERY woman should receive Maya abdominal massage?

I have seen in almost every client I work with, regardless of pathology or imbalance, that the emotional release alone can put into motion a long awaited healing.

These sessions are your rites of passage.

You want your uterus in place don’t you?

You will actually understand how your hormones and female parts work- maybe for the first time ever.

I consider it necessary female hygiene and self-care.

Your body will reveal amazing messages and guidance for you.

You WILL feel better

You will learn these techniques for a lifetime of self-care that you will hopefully share with other women you love.

As you begin your journey into your pelvic bowl with a practitioner, I highly recommend an initial investment of 4 sessions over 6-8 weeks so that the tissues remember and hold the work, the new positioning and so the nervous system can integrate the deep emotional and spiritual healing. Also, as energies rise and release it is wise to have someone to communicate with along your journey.

I know you have questions and some can be answered here. I LOVE getting emails jamie@wellbellyhealing.com

The main theme for October is “THE THREE-LEGGED STOOL” ~ Author Lena Stevens

October is a balancing act. The image is of watching a circus act from a place of terror and excitement and then feeling both relieved and exhilarated when the act is successfully completed. This month pushes the edge of everything, forcing expansion, new strategies for balance and a necessary letting go of what really does not work. It is an exciting, terrifying, exhilarating month with the challenge of extreme panic and fear as well as the opportunity to experience the ecstatic state of higher frequencies like never before. It is truly a circus that we are both witness to and performers in.

There are two eclipses this month as well as some interesting astrological aspects that support the month to be one of the most eccentric, creative, surprising and unpredictable we have had in a long time.

I could have explored many themes this month: Balancing act, radical shift, intensity, surprise, expansion, risk, edge, terror, chaos, power, balance, unpredictable, unstable, revolution/evolution, eccentric, new alignment.. But decided on the three legged stool” because it is an image that to me best describes the situation we find ourselves in this month.

A three-legged stool is unstable but stable at the same time. Its stability depends on the user. If you use a three-legged stool, which can be a great support when you need something to sit on, you need to be sitting straight and balanced. If you lean too far in either direction you will fall off. It requires attention to how you are sitting, with your back straight, as well as the awareness of where you have placed the stool, hopefully on stable ground. And your feet have to be firmly planted on the ground. There will be times this month where your stool may actually feel like a one legged-stool requiring even more presence, attention and inner stability and balance.

So the three-legged stool (sometimes a one-legged stool) is a metaphor for the times. We have everything we need to support our lives and to midwife our transformation. We just need to trust our seemingly unstable environment, and pay attention to how we are navigating our lives every day. We need to be in our personal power, connected to the integrity of our hearts and striving for a new balance. We need to release our old stories and become more comfortable with the mystery of the unknown. We need to shift our platforms of security from exterior systems to interior ones. In other words, trust more in our talents, inner wisdom, personal beliefs and the higher self of spirit rather than the money in the bank, corporate jobs, or the roof over our heads. We need to allow inspiration and a new higher frequency to guide us as we keep a “don’t know mind”.

How does one stay neutral and balanced in the midst of such unpredictability and chaos? How does one stay firmly planted on that three-legged or one-legged stool in the middle of a windstorm or hurricane?

Know who you are and don’t get swayed by another’s fear, beliefs, judgments or expectations.

Don’t take things personally.

Always move yourself to the place of enthusiasm and excitement when you feel the terror coming on. There is a fine line between terror and excitement. Terror will always throw you into a lower frequency whereas excitement will keep you moving in the right direction with the right attitude.

Keep a “don’t know mind” and listen to your heart.

Tell the truth no matter what.

Trust in spirit and your own higher self and inner voice.

Allow yourself to feel joy.

Never blame others. Take that chip off your shoulder once and for all.

Forgive, forgive, and forgive.

Slow down and finish what you started before jumping into the next inspired task.

Be eccentric rather than “normal”.

Think creatively whenever possible.

How the month shows up

YOU PERSONALLY

This is a highly creative and eccentric month. Push the envelope of your expression in the world. Try new things. Take a risk. Say YES to something you have been contemplating but have been too afraid to commit to. Instead of becoming small and retreating back into limitation, prioritize when you feel the chaos of having too much on your plate.

There is an opportunity here to express more authentically and to find a new alignment and a new balance in your life. This is also a month where you can tap into a reservoir of personal power that you did not realize you had. The mantra should be “anything is possible”. You just need to allow it by keeping yourself as free as possible from the “old story” of limitation and victimization. The roof literally comes off the building allowing you to move into a new space, a higher floor, and an expanded view of your world that includes more light, joy and possibility.

What will get in the way of that?

The need to know, the need to be right, arrogance, impatience, martyrdom, attachment to your “position”, fear, and mistrust of life working out just right. Watch the need to tell others how to navigate their three or one-legged stool and instead learn to manage your own balance and alignment. It is a great month for personal growth. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you find that the usual methods of support you have relied on are not providing what you need, try something new and radical.
RELATIONSHIPS

Relationships are ready for some fun, eccentricity and spontaneity. The task this month is to use the influences to dissolve the mistrust and conditional expectations that keep intimacy at bay and create barriers to love and joy and true support. Finding your balance in relationships requires telling the truth no matter what and not taking the projections of others personally.

Relationships will be affected by the eccentric personality of the month and can be fed by the creative aspect. Remember that as you expect others to accept your new way of being, you must also be in acceptance of others. If your partner chooses to die their hair green, accept it and rejoice in their creative expression instead of being horrified.

If you have children, they will be acting out. There is a lot of fire and solar energy this month that will quicken anger and aggressive reactions. Allow lots of room for expression while holding strong boundaries. Always give a choice and accept expressions that are eccentric as long as they are not dangerous or damaging. This goes for adults too!

ENVIRONMENT

Quirky weather and other phenomena, unexpected and unpredictable, are just a few of the environmental expressions we may be faced with. The three-legged (or one-legged) stool here is about being extremely flexible and spontaneous in your plans. Eccentricity hits the environment as it does everything else this month. Look for radical changes in temperatures, sudden storms and unpredictable changes in weather predictions. In fact nothing is predictable any more. When something happens that is unprecedented, the mind always tries to rationalize it or deny its occurrence. “This NEVER happens here”…..”It must be because”….. Remember that nature is highly creative and reflective of our own process of pushing the edge of the envelope of our comfort level. So be prepared for anything and everything this month.

On a fun note, may be delighted by reports of eccentric activity on the planet involving animals, humans and nature.

In terms of your personal environment, continue to weed and clear out what is no longer “you” (even if it is a family heirloom). Bring some creativity into your space: color, art, beauty, sound. Be a little risky and eccentric. Have some fun.
HEALTH/PHYSICAL BODY

Balance, balance, balance. Find a rhythm that works for you in your own personal self-care. Be ruthless and disciplined about taking time for yourself especially when you feel overwhelmed. Listen to your own inner wisdom regarding what you need. Humor is an all-important emotion this month as it will lubricate the path to truth telling and raise you up out of shame, despair and depression. Always find something to laugh about regarding any adverse situation concerning your health and well-being.

There will be lots and lots of energy available this month and you can easy burn out unless you have balance. The adrenals will need support. Watch liver heat as the solar energy this month stimulates and triggers impatience and aggression. Make sure to get PLENTY of exercise of the kind that makes you sweat. You will need this outlet for the possible build up of energy that otherwise will keep you sleepless at night.

Balancing your three-legged stool demands that you create a good structure around your self-care that you can commit to.

BUSINESS/PARTNERSHIPS/PROJECTS

Think big and think out of the box. Dream beyond what you think is possible as it may actually be possible. One of the lessons this month is to learn to stretch so you become comfortable in the reality that is just a dream and not manifest as well as keeping your anchor in the reality that you are used to. Learn to keep a foot in both worlds, the seen and the unseen. This is the place of power and will keep you from getting too attached to what you see manifest as you build your trust in the belief that it can always change. The unseen world is where ideas and dreams and creativity come from. The more you are able to navigate and trust that world, the more you will see your dreams manifest.

The challenge will be to get rebalanced as quickly as possible if something happens in your business or project that throws you off center. You may feel at times like your three-legged stool is a one-legged stool and that you are about to fall off the edge. Instead of going into terror, take a swan dive into the unknown and trust spirit that it will all end up OK. This is a great month to change it up and bring some newness into any project, business or partnership. So have fun, play a little and definitely bring humor into the mix.

DATES AND TIME FRAMES

October 1-7: The “heat” is on! You feel energized, inspired, a little like you want to jump out of your skin, and maybe having a hard time trying to figure out where to put and focus all this energy. Make a list of the things you HAVE to do as well as the things you WANT to do. Of the things you HAVE to do, identify what you can delegate. Prioritize the rest. Of the things you WANT to do, what is the most important and exciting and attainable thing you can start doing now?

Your three-legged stool this week is about learning to organize chaos and how to structure your time so you balance the HAVE TO’s with the WANT TO’s in a way that does not keep you enslaved to the HAVE TO’s. Even if you do not get all of your responsibilities done in one day, cut them off at a reasonable time so you have some space to do a little of what you really want to do.

It will be super important in this time to have a creative and physical outlet for energy. Sometimes when you are over-amped and without an outlet, that energy turns inward causing you to feel the opposite of energized. So if you are feeling depleted, you may actually need to go out and exercise.

October 8: Full Moon with a total Lunar Eclipse is Wednesday, October 8th at 4:51 AM MDT (mountain daylight time). This is truly an intense and possibly highly emotional time that will trigger and push everything to the edge and beyond. Instead of retreating or freezing up in fear and terror, go out and become part of the storm. Harness the tremendous energy that has the potential to feed your creativity and dreams in ways you could never have imagined.

Stay away from drama that is not yours, as there will be some out there that react to this level of energy by projecting it into negativity and fear. Keep your frequency high and always turn your focus towards the truth of what works for you. This full moon and eclipse triggers a two week time frame of revolutionary intensity that can either propel you into radical transformation or have you falling off the three-legged stool. Your ability to pay attention, and to stay focused and present while also allowing yourself to grab the power of the storm, will be key to staying firmly on the stool.
October 8-15: In the aftermath of the Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse, this time frame is about finding a new balance. Be disciplined about continuing to move yourself away from old patterns of security and comfort, and towards a new alignment. Look for the excitement of the risk and explore the threads of your creative ideas and inspirations while managing your daily life through the discipline of your routines and practices.

You will know you are on the right track when a creative idea or inspiration won’t leave you alone, and you notice that the universe begins to align all kinds of support around it. Keep aligning with new and different energies by doing some new things, connecting with new people, changing something in your environment and always pushing for just a bit more creativity and eccentricity.
October 16-23: This time frame is a bit of a yo-yo with its ups and downs and possible surprises and unpredictable events. Be prepared for anything and everything. This does not mean sitting back, hiding and waiting for the other shoe to drop. It means being proactive and passionate about everything in your life but with the flexibility, lack of judgment and neutrality that allows for spontaneity and a possible radical change of plans.

This is also the time to put into action some of what is beginning to manifest around what you WANT to do rather than what you HAVE to do. It is a highly creative and spontaneous time frame that supports eccentric expression and risk taking. Sometimes it is easier to see what you don’t want than what you do want. Weed out what you don’t want and the new desires will become clearer.

October 23: New Moon with a partial Solar Eclipse is Thursday, October 23 at 3:56 PM MDT (mountain daylight time). This is the second eclipse of the month and serves as a bookend to the most highly eccentric aspect of the month. Take some time today to just breathe. It’s as if you have just witnessed the most radical circus act and your adrenalin is settling back to normal. If there is any way to take a bit of a retreat here just to honor yourself and your authentic self with gratitude and awareness of your many talents, do it.

It could just be that you give yourself an hour to be in contemplation or you leave work early to take a walk.

This new moon is a reset point where you get to decide who you are and what you are up to, what you WANT to do and how you are going to express and support it. The energy of the eclipse period as well as this new moon will feed these inner realizations with much power and help carry this new alignment forward.

October 24-31: Busy, busy, busy. Now that you have learned to somewhat stabilize your three-legged stool, and the universe has opened some opportunities around what you said you wanted, it’s time to get to work to sort and organize and focus and actually do what you said you wanted to do. Watch for procrastination as a defense around “what you think you don’t know how to do so you put it off”. There is a steep learning curve that comes with the new territories in your life and it requires patience, discipline and keeping a “don’t know mind”. Baby steps are good.

Some of you may feel like you did on your first day of school; excited, somewhat terrified and not sure whether to run forward into the playground or back into the security of your known environment. It’s too late to turn back and you would not want to anyway.

So get to work, make it fun, be eccentric, stay present, keep expressing and creating and remember to keep your balance. If it feels like too much go back to the list of HAVE to and WANT to. Prioritize, delegate, eliminate. Make sure you end up with way more WANT to than HAVE to.

Have a great month,

Lena

Thank you for reading. If this forecast came to you through a forward or share and if you wish to receive other updates via email please go to our website and sign up www.thepowerpath.com

** All guest posts are used with permissions from the author. Wellbelly Healing shares information and messages that inspire and that WBH simply couldn’t have done better. With gratitude…

Butterflies in your belly, a broken heart, your gut instinct… Most everyone can relate to these “emotions” but very few of us actually stop to think about why a certain part of our body will respond when we are faced with fear, anger and sadness. As I work every day with clients who come to me for dysfunctions through the belly I find more and more that the root cause of many of our overall health, digestive and fertility issues, and the associated referring body pain, stems from negative emotional patterns that have caused a redirection of positive functioning (whew). But, how and why does something you can’t see, taste or smell become ingested into the system causing a dysfunction in you organ health?

We all now know that stress management is one of the key players in maintaining health and vitality; fortunately allopathic and integrative communities fully agree on this point. But, why? Stress is a broad term for the emotions life dishes to us that we tend to stuff down to be –now bear with me here- emotionally digested. And, just like the food we eat, the organs are responsible for the orchestra that breaks down, absorbs and releases the ingestion of these negative emotions. Our organs are composed of delicate tissues and cells that respond to energy as their life source. They are fascinating in their capacity to protect us from harmful substances but over time, excess emotional strain, or negative energy, will cause a withering of their spirit just like it will yours.

For centuries (and beyond), the Chinese have healed disease based on the emotional functioning of each unique organ. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) organ health correlates to an emotion and will express that emotion with vitality, or with disease, depending on the emotional health of the individual. Acupuncture, bodywork, balancing foods and herbs are used to directly target the energy meridian of each organ to nourish, unblock and redirect energy.

The belly shows the most obvious correlation between an unhappy organ and our health. For instance an “angry” liver will not filter properly causing hormone imbalances and digestive issues. This brings me back to the “stress in relation to disease” component that the whole medical community is now looking at. We must address the entire picture, look at every factor and treat the whole person to see where the true emotional indigestion and dysfunction is taking place. Once identified there are some simple ways to bring the positive flow back to your body so true healing can begin.

Here is a little 101 on your optimal organ health

Let’s have a little heart to heart: The heart contains our fire for life. It expresses compassion, love and joy for the world around us. An imbalance in, or sudden tragedy that affects the positive aspects of the heart will cause “heart ache” and if not nurtured will create the opposite emotions of cruelty, impatience, anxious thoughts, thoughtlessness and bitterness. Longer term hardening of the heart will actually lead to, well, hardening of the heart- diseases like atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, arrhythmias, and heart attacks.

~Happy Heart: The best ways to repair a broken heart are to begin practices of love, calmness and kindness in your everyday life. The philosophy of “it’s better to give than receive” is a heart life line. Herbs and herbal foods that support calming the nerves and nourishing the heart muscle are: Oat straw, chamomile, catnip, valerian, reishi mushroom, light green juices.

Just breathe. The lungs are the heart’s partner in circulating nutrients and oxygen to the body. When balanced the lungs express the emotions of courage, forgiveness, solidity and purity. Think of the energy you feel on an autumn day when you take the first deep breathe of crisp clean air- that is lung energy. (Autumn is the time of the lung according to TCM) Now, think of when you have deep sadness, grief and a sense of loss; your lungs feel heavy and taking a “breath of life” is strained. Chronically grief stricken people will sometimes take on a slumped posture as if shutting down the desire to “puff out the chest” in strength and courage. Without enough fresh full breath in our lungs they will collect excess mucus and congestion leading to asthma, colds, allergies and chronic bronchial problems.

~Happy Lungs: So, it seems a bit obvious that taking time to restore full and open breathing techniques daily will greatly help these emotional and physical conditions. Addressing deep grief and resentments will also open your lung energy. Herbs and herbal foods that nourish the lungs: All seaweeds and algaes, cayenne, radishes, garlic, nettle, marshmallow root, sage, ginger and licorice (not the candy).

Calling Poison Control: The liver filters, purifies, produces and stores. With so many passageways the liver is highly susceptible to clogging and being one of the most direct links to poor health and disease. Liver harmony reflects a calm, centered and focused energy, shiny hair, clear eyes, skin and a balance of monthly hormonal rhythms. When the liver becomes clogged and inflamed it mimics those emotions of hot anger, stagnant energy and emotional outbursts. These symptoms are felt and seen in skin problems, hot-bad breath, hormonal fluctuations, night sweats, yellowish and cloudy eyes, poor digestion and the list continues. The majority of us have some clogging of our liver due to the amount of environmental and emotional stress we consume daily.

~Happy Liver: Stress management and a clean, balanced diet are key to taming an angry liver. Adding a cup of simple hot lemon water to your morning ritual is a great way to give the liver a quick cleanse. Fresh fruits and vegetables in balance with proper protein and amino acids is the best way to keep the liver healthy. There are some amazing liver cleansing herbs that are very effective but should be not be relied upon as a daily supplement long term and I recommend working with someone who can help guide you.

Listen to your gut: Made of your small and large intestines It is a brilliant organ- literally- as it is our second brain producing 90% of our serotonin, housing 70% of our immune system and, if you cut off your head (don’t try this) it would continue to function on its own. When your body is under stress the gut is one of the first systems to shut down its processes in preparation to fight. Its main role is to absorb nutrients and eliminate the garbage. Gut function is a true sign of total health. Dysfunction of the gut hosts an ever growing list of disease and discomfort that I won’t get into here as it deserves its own platform. Emotionally when this system is in order you are grounded, stable and have a deep energy and vitality. The gut is highly susceptible to stress due to its permeable nature and many hormone functions. If the guts are “holding on too tight” then a person with gut imbalance will also hold on too tight and appear constantly anxious, highly agitated, overprotective and possibly over talkative.

~Happy Gut: Ways to calm and heal the gut are vast and depend on each person. However, homemade bone broths are very soothing and nourishing to all. Herbs such as marshmallow, slippery elm, licorice and aloe vera juice are very calming and supportive of digestion. As you begin to heal, probiotics, HCL (acid) and digestive enzymes can be very beneficial to get you to a stable point. My motto “heal the gut, heal your hormones, health and happiness”.

Go with the flow: The kidneys are our internal waterway system managing electrolytes and maintaining a balance of yin/yang-water/fire. The health of our kidneys may very well determine the health of every other function of our being as they house our chi energy (aka vitality for life). Water is graceful yet powerful and without water energy everything will cease to grow. A healthy kidney person is calm with a great presence and strength. Dysfunction of the kidneys is physically expressed mostly through extreme fatigue, foggy thinking, hormonal imbalances, kidney stones and bladder issues. Chronic fear and paranoia will manifest in kidney dysfunction which is why a sudden fright or trauma can cause loss of bladder control.

Churn and Burn: The stomach along with the pancreas produces a harmony of enzymes and acids that are in charge of preparing what we ingest for transport and absorption through the rest of the body. It can hold up to 1.5 quarts of food where it will keep it for 4-6 hours before emptying into the small intestine. Considering what the average person ingests emotionally and physically the stomach has to be a powerhouse of activity to churn through all of it. An emotionally healthy stomach will be expressed in a sense of being centered, grounded, open-minded and sociable. Dysfunction in the stomach will manifest in a feeling of being bloated physically and in personality, being disconnected from your sense of self and grasping for control. It really is the first line of defense for what we ingest so if you are ingesting chaotic foods and emotions then that is what you will become.

~Happy Tummy: The stomach is highly acidic and needs to be to break down our food. Stress can deplete our acid levels so supplementing with a high quality digestive enzyme containing HCL (Hydrochloric acid) will greatly increase digestive function. Simple herbs and foods like good old peppermint, licorice, fennel and ginger will sooth digestion and bloating.

Creative Juices Flowin: Our sex organs, mainly the uterus and prostate, may well be different in some function, shape and size but they have one major thing in common- they want to create. Our creative force is greatly diminished when there is sexual and reproductive dysfunction. Painful menses, painful intercourse and fertility challenges limit a woman’s sense of being able to feel open, sensual and creative. Where erectile dysfunction (ED) and painful urination will limit a man’s sense of, well, being manly (define as you wish). Low libido is the first obvious sign of dysfunction expressed by both sexes and the body’s way of saying that stressors have disrupted proper hormone function. With fertility challenges on the rise for all ages we must take a more honest look at the lifestyle piece of the puzzle. Although popular belief is that PMS and ED are just “a part of life”, a healthy system will not express itself in pain and swelling- or lack thereof.

~Happy…: Dance and move those hips. Seed cycling! Pumpkin seeds for men and sunflower/sesame and flax/pumpkin for women. There are so many herbs for helping to harmonize hormones for both men and women but require the guidance of a practitioner. However, these herbs/foods are great for all in “revving the engine” and keeping things fluid: Ginseng (Siberian for men, Panax for women), nettle, damiana, maca, red raspberry, ginger, licorice and connection ;).

The Orchestra: Since the entire system relies on each component, nourishing the whole body with whole unprocessed and mostly organic foods is vital. Avoiding or limiting, caffeine, sugars, alcohol, wheat, dairy and processed foods can almost immediately bring relief. Abdominal massage techniques such as Maya Abdominal Massage, Chi Nei Tsang and Visceral Manipulation can unblock pathways to allow nourishing blood, chi and oxygen reach each organ to unblock emotional and physical dysfunction, increase vitality and maintain proper positioning.

Me- “Well, it’s kale, so as much as you like for the rest of your life.”

I know that example may be slightly (only slightly) exaggerated but I work with clients daily who are caught in the medicated mindset trap. They all want a quick answer and a quick fix. I don’t fault their confusion and frustration when I tell them that the healing foods and supportive therapies I recommend take time to alter their imbalance and, for the most part, should be followed indefinitely. Between the plethora of pharmaceuticals the abundance of “all natural” remedies, super food supplements and Dr. Oz, we should be confused.

True long term healing and dis-ease prevention is a daily dose of healthy lifestyle and food choices with some herbal remedies sprinkled in to ease imbalance and transition. Once the body begins to transition from hurt to healed your instincts towards how to better manage your own well- being will begin to get stronger. And, subtly, one day, you will just wake up and live a healthier, more vibrant version of you.

When beginning your journey I know you will have these questions as everyone does. Here are some answers to help guide you out of the medicated mind set trap.

~What do you mean I have to cut out sugar, wheat, dairy, soy, corn, coffee, alcohol!!!!???- I start with this as it is the beginning of eliminating inflammation and thus dis-ease. And, yes, for a short time, if you want to set the body on a healing path, you will have to eliminate all of these “foods”. The first couple of weeks WILL be difficult (like knee surgery pain difficult). BUT, once you start to feel better and start to understand what triggers your tired, anxious, bloaty self you will be better at deciding whether or not you want to eat those “foods”. This is about learning how your body works- if you simply decide that you can’t give up coffee and are fully ok with how it disrupts your sleep then that is your decision. But, at least now you know how things are related and their effects on your body.

~WHAT will I eat?!- Well, for starters you will eat real food. Food from the land, sea and sky that has not been GMO’d and restructured for mass production (like wheat etc). I realize that this is a huge hurdle for those with very busy lives as it does require learning how to easily and affordably prepare meals and snacks. This is where working with a health coach or and integrative health practitioner will be highly valuable to your success.

~How long until it works?!- Whether it’s dietary modifications or recommended bodywork therapies, I view both as lifetime dis-ease prevention. The most successful clients maintain long term healing when they maintain their sessions on an “as needed” basis, and that may be once a month or twice a year. However with specific conditions like amenorrhea (absent menses), digestive imbalance or a tipped uterus etc, it depends on your commitment to the plan and how long the body has been fighting the imbalance in determining time. For overall reset it takes about 90 days for the body and nervous system to register and imprint change so working with your practitioner and using your support networks as least twice a month is ideal for that time period. After some balance is maintained your internal compass should be strong enough to keep you on the plan until it is no longer a plan but a way of life. The healthiest people know- “you don’t have to be sick to get better” and they keep these “plans” indefinitely.

~But why can everyone else eat sugar, wheat, dairy….. and be fine?! First, you don’t know their story and each and every body is different. I can guarantee you however that anyone who eats inflammatory, processed foods will not have long term good physical and mental health. If your inner child is feeling very deprived and angry then treat yourself- BUT NO GUILT. Once again, it is balance. You have to live your life and have fun and be social and eat chocolate and drink red wine and make cookies when it’s cold outside. But, view these things as they are- nourishment for your soul in that moment. Once you really understand how your body works and reacts you can balance your decisions with grace. And, in time, as you heal your issues your body becomes more tolerant to your treats.

Some tips to achieve long term healing with grace:

One thing at a time- take out sugar this week, dairy the next and so on until you are all cleaned up. Everything at once takes a level of will power that challenges even me.

Write it down- journaling your process is very transformative and supportive. You may even spark a new sense of creativity.

Be curious- don’t look at the body as a battle. Be a student and learn about how you DO work- not about how you don’t.

Be a buddy- the more the merrier. When you have a friend or two on this journey with you it is much easier as there will be someone else to eat piles of kale and quinoa dinners with.

This is not a pass/fail- Give yourself a break if you “fall off the wagon”. Perfection is boring anyways.

Give Time- Time.

What are some of your questions? Post your comments or email me as I would love to hear and am sure you are not alone in the wonder of your body.

My beautiful and soulful friend, Jaimie, said something so simple and profound in our discussion about cleanses and colonics and healing and , and, and… She simply posed the question “why do we keep treating the well body as if it’s not?” [Read more…] about The Sickest- Healthy People I Know

“The shape of your body obeys the shape of your beliefs about love, value and possibility. To change your body you must first understand that which is shaping it. Not fight it. Not force it. Not deprive it. Not shame it. Not do anything but accept and love….” ~ Geneen Roth

I was asked to write about weight loss. I get a pang in my gut and I want to stop right there as that alone stirs a whole current of beliefs and emotions around how I value myself, my strengths, my hopes and my ideas of health and happiness. I have my own story around weight and loss and struggle and love and gain. But, my story is only a thread in the tie that binds us all in such an emotional, personal and necessary topic of discussion. So, I will take you on a journey of what I believe the root of our obsession, failure and fear around weight loss is through the experience of another- a client- a beautiful and brave soul.

I propose the idea of abdominal massage being a tool for losing weight to highlight a couple of important points. One, I am sure that most of you are reading this hoping to find “the best new weight loss secret”. There is no judgment if you for one second thought that abdominal massage could literally help you lose weight; really we are all contributors to that societal bandwagon. Two, we all have a deeper intuition behind what blocks us from being able to address our belief and our courage around losing weight. Sometimes that intuition is buried under the physical and emotional layers that we have “gained” and the only way to access that deep knowing is through the use of healing tools to peel those layers away- enter abdominal massage… [Read more…] about Can Abdominal Massage Help You Lose Weight?

"My womb speak session with Jamie was heartfelt and profound!
Her medicine is genuine and beautiful. I felt that she truly heard me both literally and physically; she was psychically listening to all the nuances of my body, mind, and soul. Jamie was the missing link my body was looking for to continue its healing and assist in the rise of conscious awareness. . For that I am forever grateful to Jamie.”

Anna S. Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master

"One session with Jamie has had a lasting impact on my life. She has such a profound, personal understanding of the collective wound of the masculine that I felt instantly seen and tenderly moved in that part of myself. The space she holds allowed me to surrender and trust my inner godliness. The breath work we did together felt like a meeting of heaven and earth; a remembrance of the great power flowing through each one of us. I truly believe our work together has led me to a new level of peace and wholeness. I highly recommend her to any person, looking to heal in a deep and meaningful way."

Spencer P.

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